The Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Leong Vai Tac, speaks to reporters.
The Government pays close attention to opinions from the public and from members of the Legislative Assembly regarding the potential introduction of a mandatory city-wide suspension of casino operations in the event of a public emergency.
The Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Leong Vai Tac, told reporters today that there were no specific regulations in Macao currently enabling the Government to order a blanket suspension of casino operations in the city.
Such provision is however included in a Government proposal part of an overhaul of Macao’s civil protection system. A public consultation on the Government’s proposal was concluded in August.
In view of the adverse weather conditions caused by Typhoon Mangkhut, gaming operations in all of Macao’s casinos were suspended from 15 September 11pm. Gaming operations resumed at 8am on 17 September.
In a bid to minimise the negative impact of Typhoon Mangkhut, the civil protection management team suggested to suspend the city’s casino operations, in order to ensure the safety of casino employees, visitors to the city and residents. The suggestion was approved by the Chief Executive and agreed by the city’s six gaming concessionaires and sub-concessionaries.
Secretary Leong said the temporary suspension of casino operations was a result of the ongoing cooperation between the Government and the city’s gaming concessionaries and sub-concessionaires.
Meanwhile, Mr Leong said he hoped gaming operators would optimise their respective arrangements regarding suspension and resumption of casino operations in the event of a public emergency.
In addition, the Government was still evaluating the overall economic losses to Macao caused by the passage of Typhoon Mangkhut.
Mr Leong disclosed that the economic and finance bureaux had not yet received any request for assistance from small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating in the city’s low-lying areas, namely regarding losses caused by typhoon-related flooding.
The Government had earlier introduced a scheme providing subsidies for SMEs to install flood boards and other anti-flood facilities to protect their properties; such facilities proved to be effective during Typhoon Mangkhut. The Government would study how to optimise the scheme in order to reduce economic losses in the event of a public emergency, he added.